Parenting in Light of Grace

For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works.

Titus 2:11-14, ESV

As a parent, striking the right balance between clarity – calling sin, “sin” – and showering our kids in love even as they stumble and fall is just hard. No one knows that better than the Father. If we are silent about sin, what it is, what it does, we are not being loving, even if they feel loved and affirmed. And this is true, no matter the sin – pride, greed, dishonesty, lust, you name it. We have to communicate through both word and action that we will be there, to love, to counsel, to encourage, as well as to patiently challenge and correct. The common thread should be us pointing them to the gospel and to their Savior, Jesus, whose love for them goes so far beyond our own, whose love for them is not content to leave them “as they are”, but calls them – calls us – to follow Him.